Healthcare Providers Implement ICD10

Valdosta, GA – On October 1, 2015, all healthcare providers are required by the United States to convert from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding for all billing and payment of all inpatient medical services, as well as outpatient testing and diagnostic services.  ICD-10 diagnostic codes are now required on all orders for medical services to be provided.  South Georgia Medical Center, its campuses and affiliates, must have the new codes on all orders for medical tests and procedures.  The lack of updated codes will cause delays for lab work, x-rays and other outpatient services.The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a list of medical classifications used in medical coding in the US since 1979. ICD-10 will result in more specific data, which in turn will assist the World Health Organization (WHO) in its efforts to identify viral mutations and other health threats. They will also facilitate automated denials reimbursement for medical care while the codes are intended to improve data on outcomes, efficacy, and costs of new medical technology and to calculate reimbursement. The codes have the potential to provide better data for evaluating and improving the quality of patient care nationwide. They will result in substantial increases in the cost of billing for services to avoid not being reimbursed by payors. ICD10 consists of approximately 68,000 diagnosis codes, ICD9 had 13,000. This is a substantially more complex coding system. Please help to lessen the chances for problems by asking your healthcare providers if the correct ICD10 codes are listed on your medical orders.